While I was working on that packet, I also designed a craft featuring "little readers" as well as graphics depicting older students; however the packet was fast approaching 100 pages, so I decided to divide the crafts into 3 separate packets, which would then have less pages and a much lower price point.

This way, teachers could choose which writing prompt best suits their students and grade level.

Featured below, are the other two "Oh the Places" packets, which are not only perfect for March is Reading Month, Read Across America, or a Celebration of Seuss Week. but certainly appropriate at the end of the year, when students are "going places" by advancing into a new grade or graduating!

As with the HAT craft, these too, combine reading and writing with a bit of geography.

Children think of a place they’d like to travel to. Money is no object, so the world is literally at their feet.

Older students can do a bit of research, to find out about a fascinating place they’d like to travel to. (Thus the geography connection, as well as great research & technology practice!)

In the "Little Readers"packet there are 4, black & white graphic options of children reading a book. They come with and without faces.

The Students choose one, which becomes the “base”. They color, then cut it out. The hat "booklet" is glued to the top of the graphic of the child's head.

So that teachers can quickly and easily make an example to share, I've also included full-color patterns.

I find this particularly helpful with my Y5s as they enjoy sharing, so when I ask if anyone has any questions they'll often say things like, "I want to make one" or "I have a hat like that" instead of asking a question.

In all three packets I’ve included a poster with the questions, which you can use to introduce your lesson.

Afterwards, hang it up, so that older students can refer to it, or you could also read each question, then allow time for students to write down their answers.

As always, patterns come in both black & white for students, as well as color, so that teachers can quickly & easily make an example to share

If you think this is too much coloring for your kiddos, simply snip off the bottom suitcase to give to another child.

A luggage tag for a student’s name, adds some 3D pizzazz.

Completed projects make a terrific bulletin board or hallway display.

I’ve included a variety of posters in both packets, to enhance the display of your students' work.

The quote posters are in plural form, as if your students are saying these popular phrases from the story.

There are also letters for the caption: “Oh, the Places We’ll Go!” to add extra pizzazz, which are also included in all 3 packets.

Add a splash more geography and use the "globe" letters for the upper and lowercase O.

I also had a lot of fun designing my first "background papers", which I've included in both packets as well. I hope you find them useful.

The other "Oh, the Places I'll Go" packet, featuring graphics of older students, is similar to the "Little Readers" one; however, there are two writing prompt craftivitiesin this packet.

One is a file folder suitcase.

Students color and trim the suitcase, then glue it to the front of a file folder, which flips down to reveal their completed 3-page writing prompt.

The writing provides an interesting way to practice & reinforce the “5 Ws + 1 H”, which are also in the Hat and Little Readers packets: Where would you like to go? When would you like to go? Who do you want to go with? Why do you want to go? What do you want to see? and "How do you want to get there?

The 2nd choice is a “Travel Trunk.” This booklet has 6 pages to it, where students answer the same questions listed above.

I’ve also included a blank page template, so that students can consolidate their answers to one page, or write longer answers if they want.

The trunk booklet can be left as is, or topped with a "student reading” graphic. There are 4 options children can choose from.

Students color and trim, then glue to the top of their trunk booklet.

Another option, is to glue their trunk booklet to the base of a stack of suitcases.

This option can be left "as is" or can also be topped with one of the 4 ”students reading a book” graphics for a taller completed project.

You decide which version is appropriate for your students, or you could add extra variety to your display by giving students a choice.

There are two featured FREEBIES today.

Since spring brings a buzzing of bees, I thought you'd like to have a "Parts of a Honey Bee"anchor chart poster.

It's a fun icebreaker & interesting way to get to know your students too.

Simply choose the appropriate writing prompt “cover” for the flip-up booklet: * “Diving Into Summer and Looking Forward to…” * “Diving Into a New School Year and Looking Forward to…” Or

Use the “Diving Into ____________ and Looking Forward to…”option, so that students can fill in their new grade, or something else that they are looking forward to. (Diving into sports & looking forward to playing soccer & baseball.)

As you can see by the photo on your right, the writing prompt is the "title" on the "cover" of a mini booklet that flips up to reveal what students have written.

The writing prompts are also easily diversified for various ability levels & grades; as you can keep things simple for younger students, who can write one or two sentences, or a list; while having preschool children dictate a few one-word answers.

Older students will be expected to write one or two pages of more in-depth explanations. There’s a blank page pattern for this.

As with all of my products, I’ve included completed samples to give you some ideas, as well as enable you to quickly & easily zip off an example to share with your students.

Adding a sprinkle of glitter and a school photo, along with a few 3D options, gives extra pizzazz to the project.

Completed projects make a terrific bulletin board, or wall display in the hall. Because students trace & trim their own foot, each project looks a bit different.

I’ve included several "Big Splash!" posters you can use for that as well.

For additional writing options, there’s also an “I’m Ready to Make a Big Splash!” writing prompt cover, which works for both summer & back to school, allowing you a chance to touch on idioms if you want.

To help you grab that extra teachable moment, I’ve included some background information, samples & links about idioms, as well as a definition poster.

Introducing this terminology is not just for “big kids”, as my 1st graders easily understood the concept & excitedly shared all sorts of examples!

Since the end of the year is fast-approaching for many of us, you may be thinking about an end-of-the year slideshow, or perhaps you're getting ready for preschool or <strong>kindergarten graduation</strong>.

If so, you'll find today's featured FREEBIE especially helpful. It's an alphabetical list of 150, (teacher tested) songs suitable for your end of the year programs.

I hope you find it a helpful stress-buster, and one less thing you have to look for.

Well that's it for today. I marathon-shopped for flowers and plants all day yesterday, so I'm super-excited to play in the mud this afternoon.

Wishing you a sunshine & love-filled day.

"A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfull good intentions. They thrive because someone expended loving effort on them." -Unknown

I’m always looking for some quick, easy and fun things to plug in at at the end of the year, that I know my students will really enjoy, help practice the standards we’ve learned, and involve minimal prep for me.

* 5 different writing prompt taco templates, including one where students work in a group and write a compliment strip (taco filling) for everyone in their group. These make great “bucket filler” activities that help build community and self-esteem.

As teachers and parents we know how hectic the end of the school year is.

While it's certainly exciting, your "to do" list may be a bit overwhelming right now.

Giving certificates, ribbons, candy bar awards etc. is truly exciting and fun for students, but let’s face it; it’s another thing that takes more work on your part.

With this in mind, I designed the Do It Themselves (DIT) Awards. All you do is decide what you want your students to work on, then run off the “ingredients”. The focus is now off you, and on your students.

They pick a partner, interview them and design an Achievement Folder especially for their classmate. There is a huge variety of award options in the packet, so each student's will be different and tailor-made for their friend.

Many of the activities in the packet also work perfectly for "bucket fillers" and as separate end-of-the-year writing prompts that make awesome bulletin boards; such as the "high-flying balloon".

This can be done as computer-generated word art using words to describe a fellow classmate, themselves, or things associated with their wonderful year in kindergarten, or done by hand using the balloon template. (The photo shows it being used on the Award Folder).

The "You're a Sharp Student" writing prompt pencil, is another one that also stands alone, and perfect for an end-of-the-year "bucket filling" activity.

On awards day children also run the show, as they call their friend up and give this awesome gift to them, proudly sharing with the rest of the class what they’ve created.

Believe me, your kiddos will really be excited for Awards Day, not so much because they are receiving an award, but because they made one and get to be a presenter!

Because students are making these, they are practicing a variety of skills you’ve helped them master throughout the year.

They also know how much work went into creating it, so they are much more appreciative than if you had done all of the work.

This activity fits in well with your Daily 5, writing block, or as an independent center.

You decide how many award items you want your kiddos to include. I've made samples using 2 folders glued together, as well as a single Award Folder using a variety of options.

What would have been a pile of extra “homework” for you, now turns into a super-fun classroom crafivity for your students that they can happily work on independently, freeing you up to check other things off on your "to do" list!

You can still buy those candy bars, but keep in mind this might not be your students' favorite candy. Just because a particular kind of candy fits a cute slogan, does not mean they'll be thrilled with it.

Once again, I like to make the "treat" thing totally DIT, so I’ve included a note home to parents letting them know what their child is working on.

Via their interview, each child now knows their classmate’s 3 favorite types of candy. Parents are asked to give their child a job to earn that dollar, then take them to the store to buy ONE of those items.

Shopping for the candy goes on our "chore" list. However, children get truly excited about this, which helps make them beyond thrilled on Awards Day, and that favorite candy treat especially sweet.

As children present their awards, self-esteem is built on both the receiving end, as well as making the presenter feel especially important too.

You’re teaching valuable life skills, and each child is getting a treat that they will truly enjoy, plus you save yourself time, gas, and at least $15, at the same time shortening that “To Do” list in the process!

Win-win; woo hoo! Take a bow! You deserve an award. The packet is a whopping 150 pages long (!) so you have plenty of options to choose from.

After students pick a partner, give them several days to work on their folder. Remind them that this is all "top secret" and they shouldn't share what they are doing with anyone.

The packet includes:

14 certificates

3 ribbon badges

14 "I'd like to praise my friend" writing prompt worksheets

A "Tweet It!" writing prompt bookmark.

A "Text It!" iPhone writing prompt, with samples of each.

(Besides using these for the Award Folder, students could also "Text" and "Tweet" a note to one of your next year's students.)

A "Star Qualities" writing prompt bookmark.

A Wanted poster writing prompt.

An alphabetical list of 236 positive adjectives to help describe their classmate.

An interview-investigation worksheet to collect data.

53 page options to make a "Flipping Over Your Awesome Achivements" booklet. With a full-color sample booklet for you to share with your students, to help explain things.

And finally, lots of samples and photographs to make things easy and give you some ideas.

Since you waded through this long blog, you deserve not one, but 3 little FREEBIES from the packet.

There's the iPhone "Text It"freebie with 2 samples, the "Tweet It!" bookmark writing prompt, with a sample, a "Wow!" mini award certificate, where you can write in whatever you want in the "speech bubble", and finally, the list of 236 positive adjectives. Click on the link to enjoy them.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. Wishing you a wonderful time celebrating the end of the year and all you've accomplished.

As the year winds down and I had all of my assessments done, I was always looking for some fun things my students would enjoy doing, for those last few weeks of school.

With that in mind, I designed some cute writing prompts with a little bit of craftiness, to grab their attention and get them excited to write.

I'm featuring 3 on the blog today, along with a sweet treat for today's featured FREEBIE.

First up is a cow-themed craftivity, great for anyone, but especially perfect if you had a farm or animal theme for your classroom.

"Moo-vin' On Up To A New Grade!" has several options. Students can simply color the cow, (there are 3 options) cut it out and glue it to the top of their writing prompt, or you can run off the cow parts on construction paper.

Children trim, glue their cow together, add some pizzazz with crayons, then glue it to the top of their writing prompt.

(There are 2, plus a blank template to program with whatever).

Preschoolers can dictate their answers to a volunteer, or send the paper home for parents to help complete the writing prompt portion, then do the cow craftivity in class.

Completed projects make an adorable bulletin board.

I’ve included 2 posters for your display, as well as a cow bell pattern.

For that finishing touch, have students sign their name & glue a school picture on the bell.

There are color as well as black and white bookmarks for you to give your students as well, with patterns for preschool-3rd grade, plus a blank template to fill in a different grade.

Next up is a self-esteem "Compliment Cat!""Filling buckets" or being a "bucket filler" seems to have really caught on in a lot of schools.

We have this program in ours. The idea is to encourage positive behavior. Children catch on fast and see how easy and rewarding it is to express sincere kindness, appreciation, and caring about others on a daily basis.

With that in mind, I wanted to think up a quick and easy end-of-the-year"bucket filler" so to speak, that would help promote a child's self-esteem.

Thus, the Classmate Compliment Cat Craftivity was born. I chose a cat not only because of the alliteration, but because my kiddos absolutely love Pete the Cat, so it was no surprise to me when many of them colored their kitty various shades of blue.

Students accordion fold the template following the lines, which provides wonderful fine motor practice, then they color and glue their cat to the top of their folded paper.

Decide on a direction, and have children pass their "compliment cat" to another child to write something nice about them on one of the accordion-folded sections. They continue passing 'til everyone has signed all of their classmates’ cats, and end up with their own.

So students get a special compliment from their teacher, make sure you are part of the signing, or write a personal note to each child on the colorful, (4-on-a-page) note. Add the finishing touch by having students glue a piece of colorful border to the top.

The cats make a wonderful bulletin board, or look cute hung as a border along a hallway wall. I’ve included two posters for your display.

The packet also includes 5 colorful bookmarks that you can pass out to everyone after they have completed their projects.

I’ve also included a different, black and white bookmark option, if you want this year’s students to color it and then write a note to next year’s kiddos wishing them a “purr-featly wonderful year”.

Anticipation is very versatile, as I’ve included a variety of writing prompts suitable for the beginning and end of the year, as well as a summer prompt entitled “The Perfect Picnic” which can be a short story, or simply a list of things that a child would want to have, take, eat, and do on a picnic.

There are also blank patterns for you to program with something else, as well as a completed sample so you can quickly and easily make an example to share.

Completed projects make an awesome and interesting bulletin board or border along a hallway wall. I’ve included 3 posters for your display.

Children cut out their ant head, add details with crayons and then glue it to the other 2 body segments. I purposely made this ant with 3 parts because I wanted to reinforce science information about insects.

Because of limited time, it’s often difficult to plug in some science, so I try to incorporate it with our reading and writing.

I’ve included “Parts of an ant”posters (realistic & cutesy) plus worksheets, as well as a writing prompt and posters for“Ants can: have: are” if you want to do that too.

Share the poster, write the vocabulary on the board, then have students label these parts on their ant with a white crayon.

Adding pipe cleaner legs and antennae will also give you the opportunity to explain more science vocabulary, at the same time giving the craftivity a 3D look.

I also read the informational, non-fiction book, Ants Ants And More Ants, which we discuss afterwards.

This book is a level G, 1st grade reader, if you want your students to read it themselves & get in that non-fiction genre requirement.

To test their comprehension, I write some of the facts on the board as they share them, then they fill out their “Ants Can: Have: Are:" worksheet.

Today's featured FREEBIE serves a dual purpose, as you can use if for the beginning or end of the year.

To turn it into an inexpensive treat, stick on a pencil, pen, marker, glow stick (bracelet), pixie stick, (filled with powdered candy), or an individually wrapped piece of licorice as the mast, to add that little something extra.

After I've designed a writing prompt craftivity, I take a look and see if it can serve double duty. Can I tweak the prompt so that it not only works for a back-to-school activity, but something teachers could plug in at the end of the year as well?

Such is the case with the 4 craftivities I'm featuring in this blog article. The featured FREEBIE today, also serves a dual purpose too.

First up, is a super-cute "play on words"bicycle craftivity. "I had a 'wheel' great year/summer"

I chose a bike theme because no matter what grade I taught, riding a bicycle was something most of my students really enjoyed doing.

Use the bicycle template for a cute end of the year writing prompt, where students choose two wheel options and complete the prompts inside the spokes.

You can also use it as a super-fun icebreaker for back-to-school, as an interesting way to get to know your new students.

Completed projects make a wonderful bulletin board. I’ve included 2 posters to use for the center of your display.

There’s also an additional writing prompt worksheet where students describe their bike, or an experience riding their bike, or some other bike-themed idea you come up with.

There are several options for you to choose from in this versatile packet, which includes patterns for preschool - 8th grade.

Completed projects make a terrific bulletin board and nice keepsake. You could also keep this bulletin board up for back to school.

Use the poster: “We had a blast this year and hope you will too!” for the center of your display, and have all of your students sign the matching blank poster.

Besides the above prompts, I also thought it would be fun for this year's students to make a TP tube firecracker and tuck a note inside: "You're going to have a blast in ______________ grade because..."

Or... skip the note and have children jot a greeting on the bookmark writing prompt. What a nice surprise for your kiddos to find on/in their desk on the first day of school. I’ve also included bookmarks for you to give your current students, wishing them a blast of a summer.

Likewise, new kiddos can complete the "I had a blast this summer!" for a back to school writing prompt. I’ve included posters for the center of that display as well.

Another versatile writing prompt, is a super-cool looking T-shirt craftivity. I think the key to the “way cool” result, is that I used tie dye, plaid and watercolor splattered copy paper, which came in a ream of 50 sheets per pattern.

I ran the T-shirt template off on this paper, as well as the cover pattern; so when the booklet is stapled to the front of the T-shirt the cover matches and blends in. “Awesome!” is what my students tell me.

This "craftivity" is very versatile, as it includes templates for an end-of-the year memory book, with covers for preschool through 6th grade, plus a blank template.

If you already have a memory book, have students write why they think this grade was terrific, or have this year’s students write a note to next year’s class: “You’re going to have a T-‘rrific Year” because…

You can also use this as a self-esteem building (fill a bucket) activity. Use the “______ is “T"-'rrific!" template and have each classmate write a compliment in everyone's booklet.

The prompt also works for Father's Day. Simply fill the blank in with: “My Dad is “T-‘rrific” or... for back-to-school have students write about why their summer was terrific.

For a “fun-tastic” display, hang completed projects on a rope suspended against a wall and use real clothespins to clip them on.

Finally, another double-duty writing prompt craftivity that's a bit on the wacky side, also features a T-shirt plus a pair of shorts.

You can use the patterns separately, or combine them to make a dorky dude & dudette by adding funky sunglasses, and gluing on a student's traced hands and feet.

Besides using this for a beginning or end of the year activity, it's also perfect for "Wacky Wednesday" fun, as part of a week-long Dr. Seuss celebration.

Explain to your students that the term “In short” means to explain briefly or summarize, which is one of 5 options for the writing prompts on the pair of shorts.

Likewise, the T-shirts also have a variety of options as well. Pick and choose what's best suited for your kiddos. As with the above T-shirts, these also look cute hung with clothespins from a clothesline.

As promised, the featured FREEBIE today is also versatile. I did countless hours of work looking for songs appropriate for an end of the year slide show, as well as a preschool or kindergarten graduation.

As long as I had done the research, I decided to make an alphabetical list, in hopes that it would save somebody else a ton of time. Click on the link for the 150 Songs For The End Of The Year..

Well that's it for today. I hope you found something useful.

Whether your're reading this at the end of the year (woo hoo) and looking forward to a much-deserved summer hiatus, or checking things out in the fall, excited for a brand new year, I hope you have an absolute blast!

"So often you find that the students you are trying to inspire, end up inspiring you."-Sean Junkins

Sometimes when I'm designing something for a particular thing, it turns out that I can also use it for something else; as once a crafty little pattern is made, it's easy to tweak the writing prompt portion, so that it fits for other times of the year.

Such is the case for several of the Mother's Day craftivities I just finished; so I included patterns appropriate for the end of the year, as well as back to school.

Today, I'm featuring 3 of them, along with today's featured FREEBIE.

First up is the "berry" versatile strawberry packet. I’ve included a back-to-school pattern that says: “I had a ‘berry’ special summer because…”as well as an end of the year template: “This school year was ‘berry’ special because…”

Run the summer strawberry off on hot pink with lime green leaves; then see wonderful improvement in your students’ writing, when they complete the other prompt, at the end of the year.

I’ve also included another pattern to make a “Thank you ‘berry’ much!” card, which you can give to volunteers who’ve helped your class, the secretary or whoever gave you a helping hand throughout the year.

Flip the card up to reveal a picture of your class holding a thank you sign or letter cards spelling the words out, then have everyone sign it.

Another pattern is for a Mother’s Day card: “My (mom, mommy, mama, mum, grandma) is ‘berry’ special because…”Have students make hand print “leaves” for that keepsake touch.

Finally, the "fruity treat" is a little gift you can give your students at the beginning or end of the year: "I hope your summer is 'berry' special just like you." or . . . "I'm wishing you a 'berry' special year.

Attach the strawberry tag to a berry-flavored juice box or package of Skittles.

Next up is the "....And That's Something To Tweet About!" writing prompt bird craftivity. Just like the strawberry, you can use it for back-to-school, (“I had a great summer!), or at the end of the year (“I had a great year in school) and that's something to tweet about!"

I’ve also included a variety of writing prompt options suitable for Mother’s Day as well. “My (mom, mum. mommy, mama, grandma) is special and that’s something to tweet about!”

There are blank wing and “hang tag” patterns as well, so that you can write in something else. These pieces, along with the accordion-folded legs, add special 3D pizzazz.

Older students explain why, by writing on the back of the bird. Completed projects really turn out adorable and look sweet suspended from the ceiling.

Finally, "Great Times!" also includes a variety of writing prompt options. I’ve included 3 patterns for a Mother’s Day card, as well as templates for the end of the year: ”Time sure flies! I had a _____________ year in _____________!”

Plus there’s a “Fun in the Sun Summer Time“ pattern, where students can write about the fun times they are looking forward to doing during vacation, or use for back-to-school and have students write about a few of their favorite times that they enjoyed.

Students will enjoy this Spanish-themed "Taco 'bout" play-on-words writing prompt. I've included an "Ola!"poster to introduce the lesson with a friendly "Hello" in Spanish, then use it as the center for your bulletin board display.